ACC clients could get interest on backdated claims

The Accident Compensation Corporation says some clients may be eligible for an interest payout on backdated claims in the light of a recent Court of Appeal decision.

ACC says the ruling has defined the circumstances in which interest should be paid to people whose compensation was reinstated after being suspended.

Claims general manager Sid Miller says interest is not automatically payable on backdated weekly compensation, so factors such as why payments were stopped and when they were backdated from need consideration.

Mr Miller says it's not known how many people will be affected but it's likely to take a number of months to identify everyone eligible and decide whether they are entitled to interest.